Marion’s brows dipped together.“You had no part in my injuries. I slipped.”
“Ye would have never been aloneoutside in the first place had I nae yelled at ye for wearing Catriona’s gown.”His face was set in hard lines. “I’ll nae make excuses for my response. I—”
“You love her,” Marion supplied,wishing to spare him the worry of hurting her by saying the words. “You loveher, and it pained you to see me in her gown. I understand.”
His blue eyes glittered with thehurt he was feeling. “Ye dunnae understand,” he replied. “It pained me becausewhen I saw ye in it, I could nae remember what she looked like when she’d wornit. All I could see was ye. All I could feel was my desire for ye. I swore toher that I’d nae forget her.”
She took a quick breath of utterastonishment. “You’re afraid you’ll forget her if you let yourself love me?”
“Aye.” The word was a single one, asmall one, but drenched with misery deeper than the sea.
Her throat ached with the need toargue, but what words were there to convince him he’d not forget Catriona? Shecould not imagine loving someone as Iain had loved Catriona and then everforgetting him. Yes, Iain’s memories would likely fade a bit, and he’d make newones with her, but loving someone new would not erase the love he’d felt forCatriona.
Marion took a long, shaky breath.Deep within, she knew her words would not convince him. He had to realize ithimself. “I know not to expect your love,” she said, hoping to ease the linesof worry on his forehead. He already knew she wanted it; there was no point insaying it.
He gave her a dark, layered lookbefore pulling her roughly to him. “Marion, ye should expect it. Ye’re mywife.” He shook his head. “I’m nae good with talk of the heart. Let me tryagain. What I want to say is that I want to look toward the future, nae dwellin the past anymore.”
“What of your fears?” she whisperedinto his chest.
“They are mine to conquer.”
She peered sideways at his strongprofile. Did that mean he thought he could defeat them? Did that mean hethought he might be able to make space in his heart to love her?
“What now?” she asked.
He set her away and motioned to thefoot of the bed. “I moved Catriona’s trunk out of the bedchamber, as I shouldhave done when ye came. This isourbedchamber now. I want ye to becomfortable here and feel it is as much yers as mine.”
Tears stung her eyes as warmnessenveloped her.
He frowned and wiped the pad of histhumb across her cheek to catch her tears. “What’s this?”
“Happiness,” she said. “You’ve mademe very happy. And I’m terribly sorry about Catriona’s gown. I truly did notknow. You see—”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “Iken all about it. Fiona admitted what she did.”
Marion moved Iain’s finger. “I’dlike to talk to her.” Part of her wanted to throttle the woman, but part of herwanted to try to help ease the pain she must be feeling.
“Ye kinnae.”
“Why not?” she demanded.
“She’s gone.”
“Iain!” she gasped. “What have youdone?”
He grimaced at her. “What I shouldhave done months ago when she started hinting that I should marry her. I senther away to marry another.”
“Oh, Iain! How could you?”
“Verra easily,” he said, crossinghis arms. “I simply sent for the man, and he came to get her. Dunnae fret. He’sa good man.”
Marion shook her head at his words.“But she surely doesn’t love him.”
“They’ve shaken hands and agreed tobe bound in marriage for one year, and if after that she kinnae bring herselfto stay married to him, I’ll allow her back on the condition that she’ll leavefor good if she causes trouble again. Either way, she has a year to change herways.”
Iain’s explanation made Marion feela bit better, but still. “The other women will hate me.”
“I ordered them nae to,” hereplied.
